News and Information

News & Information

Office of the President

CSU requests budget increase
Calling it a "recover and reinvest" budget, the California State University Board of Trustees adopted a budget for 2010-2011 calling for an $884 million increase in state support from the legislature and Governor. The budget would increase the systemâs General Fund support from its current reduced level of $2.3 billion to $3.2 billion. http://blogs.calstate.edu/budgetcentral/.

Enrollment growth carefully managedThere is no doubt that this has been a most difficult year for students, staff and faculty at public universities throughout California. At present, the Stateâs fiscal situation has left Californiaâs public universities with no choice but to reduce enrollment levels for both the 2009-10 and 2010-11 fiscal years, based on inadequate funding. At Cal State L.A., the budget cutbacks have resulted in a $24 million cut in funding for this fiscal year. To maintain quality, the University is forced to contain enrollment levels. Fall 2010 application levels have set new records, and the University is likely to declare impaction to cope with great demand at a time of diminishing state funding. For more information, go to Californiaâs Legislative Analyst, at http://www.lao.ca.gov/analysis_2009/highered/highered_anl09003003.aspx#zzee_link_1_1233189184.

Leading the way once againCal State L.A. leads the way, for the second consecutive year,with 14 students selected for the 2009-10Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar awardsâthe largest group from any California State University campus to be selected. There were 258 applicants from the 23 campuses, from which 70 awards were made. Sally Casanova Scholars receive a stipend that may be used for travel expenses to visit doctoral-granting institutions, to attend professional conferences, to pay application fees and to register for the Graduate Records Exam. Since 1998, more than 130 students from Cal State L.A. have been recognized as Sally Casanova Scholars, with most subsequently entering top-ranking doctoral programs.

Major grant establishes new teaching mentoring program
A five-year, $8.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will launch the Los Angeles Urban Teacher Residency Program here in 2010. Through a 15-month graduate-level program, an initial cohort of 25 Charter College of Education students will become resident-teachers at middle and high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), working with outstanding mentors. While in the program, the resident-teachers will receive a $21,000 stipend. They will be assisting the effort to provide high-quality teachers in high-need public schools to teach math, science and special education. Upon completion of the program, participants will earn both a teaching credential and a masterâs degree, and will be encouraged to teach for at least three years in the LAUSD.

Federal grant for DNA support
To make more stockpiled DNA evidence available more quickly to law enforcement and the judicial system, a $1 million federal appropriation, championed by Congressman Adam Schiff, is being administered by the California Forensic Science Institute (CFSI). Through an innovative Smart Backlog Reduction Program, Cal State L.A. is collaborating with the Los Angeles County Sheriffâs Department (LASD) and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) on strategic, long-term solutions to the DNA backlog.

Nursing Scholarship support
The California Masonic Foundation is funding scholarships for graduate students in nursing education and administration, in support of leadership development and excellence in nursing. To read more, see /univ/ppa/newsrel/masons-nursing.htm

Congrats to our Golden Eagles teams
Congratulations to our volleyball and soccer teams on their recent accomplishments. The Golden Eagles volleyball team, ranked No. 20 nationally, made the playoffs for a sixth straight season. The Golden Eagles soccer teams recently recorded a pair of impressive firsts: The menâs and womenâs teams were both rated in the national Top 10 simultaneously for the first time in school history; and, for the first time, the womenâs team was ranked, for a brief time at least, as the No. 1 team in the NCAA Division II West Region poll. Our Golden Eagles deserve your support! http://www.csulaathletics.com

Campus UpdatesSustainable Energy: The hydrogen fueling and dispensing station has moved closer to fruition, with major funding partners—including the California Air Resources Board, the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the Auto Club of California—committing support for this project. The station will be a part of the Power, Energy and Transportation curriculum that teaches sustainable energy principles and carries out applied research to mitigate the problems of fossil fuel dependence and related pollution. With this project, Cal State L.A. will be uniquely positioned to educate those who will develop and implement new green technologies. With final approvals, the project is expected to move forward in 2010.

The CSU Board of Trustees approved amendments to the Universityâs Master Plan, approving two real property acquisitions, both of which are currently in escrow:

The Latter Day Saints Institute of Religion, also known as the Cavanagh Road property: The Trustees approved an amendment to allocate $3.3 million from the non-state funded Capital Outlay Program for the acquisition and improvement of this property that had previously operated as part of the Church of Latter Day Saints. One parcel is approximately 0.44 acres and includes a two-story building with a multi-use room, classrooms, conference rooms, offices and support space. The second parcel is 0.39 acres and includes a two-level parking structure with 61 parking spaces. The proposed acquisition cost is $2.3 million for the property and buildings, and an additional $936,000, primarily for seismic and ADA improvements.

This proposed acquisition and master plan revision will enable the campus to fulfill immediate needs for versatile space suitable to house undergraduate and graduate programs in Television, Film and Media Studies. The location of the property is consistent with the campus master plan and the location of the arts programs and facilities at the northwestern part of the University, near the Luckman Fine Arts Complex, State Playhouse, and the Music Building. Upon the close of escrow for the proposed acquisition, planned seismic and accessibility upgrades to the two-story building will bring it into compliance with CSU standards to house the Television, Film, and Media Studies programs. The parking structure will provide parking for students, faculty, staff and visitors.

The Dobbs Street Apartment Building: The CSU Board of Trustees also approved the proposed acquisition and renovation—through thenon-state funded Capital Outlay Program—of the Dobbs Street building, which includes 26 apartment units, a single-family unit residence, and 27 parking spaces. The property, to be acquired for $2,745,000, offers a good addition to the campus master plan, with the important benefit of increasing capacity for graduate student housing.